Scoring indicator



July 25, 1961 D ROTHMAN 2,993,288

SCORING INDICATOR Filed Feb. 18, 1960 M /7Z 4/ /4 4Z ,Z

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.Zyl/[ @maar A? 770 NE V5 2,993,288 SCGRIN G INDICATOR David Rothman, 6030 Almeda Road, Houston 4, Tex. Filed Feb. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 9,528 1 Claim. (Cl. 40-70) This invention relates to a scoring indicator and more particularly to a scoring indicator for a baseball game.

A object of this invention is the provision of an improved scoring indicator of a size to be conveniently carried in the pocket, whereby the score of a baseball game `as viewed at the ball park or over television, or as head over the radio may be continuously recorded.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device or" this character which will indicate not only the score, but the inning, the number of balls, strikes, and outs, as well 4as the position of base runners on any or all of the bases.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a device which may be readily manipulated with one hand by the user, to maintain all requisite scoring information in readily accessible and visible position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eliicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front plan view of one form of score board embodying features of the instant invention, certain concealed parts thereof being indicated in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of la constructional detail removed from the assembled scoring device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the scoring device of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and comprises a front plate 11 of generally rectangular configuration having oppositely disposed cutout portions 13 and 14 on the sides thereof.

The device `also includes a rear board or plate 15, and corner spacer portions 16. The rear plate 15 is correspondingly cut away to correspond with the cutout portions 13 and 14, for a purpose tov be more fully described hereinafter. The top edge 17 of the device is provided with aligned cutout portions 18, 19 and 20, which extend through the front and rear plates, and serve to permit the grasping of rotatable discs, for a purpose and in the manner to be more fully described hereinafter. The lower edge 21 of the device is similarly cut away at 22, 23 and 24.

The corner portions 16 have arcuate cutout inner portions 25 adjacent the center of the device for the accommodation of a centrally positioned disc 26, which is positioned between the front and rear plates, and held in position by means of a grommet 27. The disc 26 has -a central opening 28 to accommodate the grommet 27 so that the disc 26 may be rotated thereabout, and is provided with a plurality of annularly disposed colored segments 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35. The colored segments are of different lengths and are visible selectively through sight openings. As shown in FIG. 3, these segments are arranged as to arcuate lengths in the `direction of rotation 4nited States Patent C r' 2,993,288 Patented July 25, 1961 of the disc, as indicated by the arrows, of a long segment 29, three intermediate length segments 35, 33 and 31, and three alternating short length segments 34, 32 and 30. With the arrangement as thus shown, including the arcuate spacings between the segments, it is possible to indicate all conditions of base occupancy. Taken in the order indicated these are: No runners on base, runner on rst, iunners on first and second, runners on first and third, runner on second, runners on second and third, runner on third, runners on first, 4second and third, or bases filled. One of the sight openings 36 is positioned at a point corresponding to home plate, while another opening 37 is positioned to correspond to first base, a third opening 3S is positioned to correspond to second base, and a fourth opening 39 is positioned to correspond to third base. The center of the score board is marked otf to represent a baseball diamond. The arrangement is such that, in accordance with the position of the disc 26 as rotated by grasping the projecting edge of the same which extends through cutout portions 13 and 14, any one or all of the bases may be indicated as occupied. In FIGURE l for example, the disc is arranged to show a batter at home plate, as indicated by the colored segment 30, a runner on first base is indicated by a portion of the segment 29, and a runner on second base is indicated by a portion of the colored segment 35. It will be seen that the segment 33 has not been positioned under third base, as shown in the drawing, while the segment 32 has passed the third base opening, so that no runner is indicated on third base. Similar representations may be made for each base according to actual conditions occurring during the game.

rIhr-ee discs 40, 41 and 42 are suitably secured along the upper edge of the device by means of grommets 43, 44 and 45, with their edges projecting through the cutout portions 18, 19 and 20, respectively. The first disc 40 carries numerals l, 2, 3, and 4 thereon, as well as the numeral 0, to indicate the number of balls issued by the pitcher. The selected number is visible through a sight opening 45. The central disc 41 carries similar indicia from 0 to 3, for indicating the number of outs, the selected indicia being visible through the opening 46, while the right-hand disc 42 carries numerals from 0 to 3 to indicate the number of strikes, the latter numerals being visible through the sight opening 47. Obviously the discs may be rotated by grasping the edges thereof through the adjacent openings to position the selected indicia adjacent the related sight opening. The lower portion of the device also carries three discs, 50, 51 and 52, the edges of which project respectively through the cut away portions 22, 23 and 24. These discs are rotatably mounted, respectively, by means of grommets 53, 54 and 55. The left-hand disc, as viewed in the drawing carries numbers which may run from l to 15, or higher if desired, in accordance with the particular size of the numerals relative to the disc, la selected one of which is visible through a sight opening 57. to indicate the number of runs scored by the visitors. The disc 52 is similarly numbered, and a selected number, visible through the sight opening 58, indicates the number of runs scored by the home team. The central disc, which is smaller, contains numbers from l, to, illustratively, 1l, indicative of the number of innings which have been played, the numbers 10 and l1 being desi gned to accommodate eXtra inning games if necessary, and ya selected number visible through the sight opening 59 indicates the inning in progress at the particular time.

If it is desired, suitable yadvertising material may be positioned on the front side of the device, in such a position as not `to obscure the appropriate indicia, and may cover, if desired, the entire rear side of the device.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved base-ball scoring device which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As contrasted ,to known scoring devices of this type, the present invention eliects a change in one or more of the dials with each land every pitch of the ball during the game.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown `and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In Ia baseball scoring device, a rear plate of generally rectangular shape having `a hole therein at the intersection of its longitudinal ,and transverse center lines, and arcuate cutout sections in its sides along the transverse center line, a registering front plate of rectangular shape having a hole therein at the intersection of its longitudinal and transverse center lines and arcuate cutout sections along 20 the transverse center line, la square marked thereon having its diagonals along the longitudinal and transverse center lines of the latter plate simulating a baseball dilarnond and holes therein at the vertices of said square to represent home plate and the three bases, spacer plates interposed between the front and rear plates at the corners of same, a disc positioned between said front and rear plates and having its circumference extending into the registering arcuate cutout sections in the front and rear plates `and having diiierently `designated arcuate segments of varying lengths thereon radially positioned to align with the holes at the vertices: of the square on the front plate arranged in a series of a long, three interme diate and three alternating short lengths, and a grommet in the registering holes at the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse center lines of the front and rear plates rotatably mounting said disc, whereby through appropriate rotation of said disc runners may be shown on any or all of the bases.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 916,564 Kristofek Mar. 30, 1909 1,333,686 Spotswood Mar. 16, 1920 1,513,158 Cook Oct. 28, 1924 1,951,022 Iverson Mar. 13, 1934 2,702,954 Cline Mar. 1, 1955 

